NEW MUSIC

The press has conniption fits when a rapper says he's recording with Rick Rubin. And for good reason--the bearded wonder is one of the architects of many of hip-hop's early classics as a chief creative force for Def Jam. But if you're a rapper trying to lay down some vocals in Los Angeles, your first call is probably to an equally laid back Caucasian. Mac Miller's basement is one of the city's go-to studios, so it was no surprise when, earlier this month, the hefty spitter from Illinois said that he had recorded one of the best songs of his ...